The document summarizes the results of a needs assessment survey completed by 141 individuals aged 18 and older who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Some key findings include: - The majority were male, Caucasian, and had a primary diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder. Most had not completed college and earned under $20,000 annually. - Regarding education, over half were not currently in school but wanted to be. Many received accommodations but needed more support. Employment was also a challenge, with most unemployed or underemployed. - Socially, respondents reported difficulty with tasks like group work, asking for help, and romantic relationships. Most lived with family and were satisfied with their living

1.
PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Individuals (Completed for themselves)
141 individuals over age 18 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders completed this needs assessment module. Item‐level
survey results for this module are presented here in the same format in which the survey was administered.
1. What is your sex?
Male 71.6% Female 28.4%
2. What is your race/ethnicity? (Check all that apply)
African American 4.9%
Asian/Pacific Islander 1.4%
Caucasian/European American 89.4%
Latino, Hispanic, or Chicano 2.1%
Native American 3.5%
Other 3.5%
(Please specify)
3. What is your zip code? See Map
4. In what year were you born (e.g. 1974)? Mean: 25.8 years old, Standard Deviation: 10.9
5. What is your current marital status?
Married 0.7%
Never been married 98.6%
Divorced/Separated 0.7%
Widowed 0%
6. Do you have children?
Yes 2.2%
No, but planning on having children 16.4%
No, undecided 41.0%
No, I do not want children 40.3%
7. Which of the following is closest to your annual income?
Under $20,000 93.2%
$20,000‐$39,999 3.8%
$40,000‐$59,999 0.8%
$60,000‐$79,999 0%
$80,000‐$99,999 0.8%
$100,000 or above 1.5%
8. What is your primary autism diagnosis?
Asperger’s Disorder
Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD/NOS)
69.8% Autistic Disorder/Autism 11.5%
15.8% Other 2.9%
9. Have you ever been diagnosed with or treated for any of the following? (Check all that apply)
Anxiety Disorder 31.7%
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 40.1%
Bipolar Disorder 17.6%
Central Auditory Processing Disorder 5.6%
Conduct Disorder (CD) 2.8%
Depression 43.0%
Developmental Delays 22.5%
Hearing Impairment 2.8%
Learning Disability 33.1%
Mental Retardation/ Intellectual Disability 14.8%
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 21.8%
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) 12.0%
Seizures/ Seizure Disorder 7.0%
Tourette’s Syndrom e 2.1%
None of these 5.6%
Other (Please specify) 14.8%

2.
10. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
No high school 3.0%
Some high school 8.2%
High school graduate/GED 47.8%
Vocational/Technical school 4.5%
Some college 20.1%
College degree 13.4%
Some graduate studies 1.5%
Graduate degree 1.5%
11. Are you currently in school?
Yes, high school 8.0%
Yes, community college 9.4%
Yes, four‐year college 8.0%
Yes, vocational/technical school 2.2%
Yes, graduate school 0%
No, but I would like to be 21.0%
No 51.4%
If you are not currently in school, please SKIP to question 12
11a. What is the status of your school enrollment?
Full‐time 76.3% Part‐time 23.7%
11b. Are you aware of assistance and/or resources for individuals with disabilities at your school?
Yes, but I don’t use them 24.3%
Yes, and I do use them 67.6%
No 8.1%
11c. Have you been identified by your school as needing accommodations (e.g. tutoring, special housing,
counseling)?
Yes 73% I don’t know 8.1%
No 18.9%
11d. What are your plans after graduation?
Continue education 47.4%
Look for full‐time employment 26.3%
I don’t know 21.1%
Other 5.3%
Please tell us about your education needs:
I am
receiving
I am receiving,
but need more
I am receiving,
but do not
need
I am not
receiving, but
need
I am not
receiving
11e. Special housing 8.1% 2.7% 0% 2.7% 86.5%
11f. Test‐taking assistance 40.5% 2.7% 2.7% 16.2% 37.8%
11g. Academic counseling 36.1% 13.9% 2.8% 16.7% 30.6%
11h. Note‐taking assistance 11.1% 2.8% 2.8% 16.7% 66.7%
11i. Tutoring 22.9% 14.3% 0% 14.3% 48.6%
11j. Peer mentoring/social
supports
22.2% 2.8% 2.8% 36.1% 36.1%

3.
Please describe any friendships you have developed by participating in the following school activities:
Very strong
friendships
Casual Friendships No friendships
developed
Have not
participated
11k. Peer mentoring 2.7% 18.9% 24.3% 54.1%
11l. Dorm‐sponsored
social activities
0% 5.4% 13.5% 81.1%
11m. Student groups 10.8% 24.3% 24.3% 40.5%
11n. Intramural and
club sports
0% 8.1% 8.1% 83.8%
 Please continue answering the questions…
12. Are you currently employed?
Yes, full‐time 5.8%
Yes, part‐time 25.9%
No, but currently looking for a job 20.9%
No, I am retired 0.7%
No 46.8%
If you are not currently employed or looking for a job, please SKIP to question 13
12a. Which of the following have you used/do you use to look for employment? (Check all that apply)
Internet 23.2%
Parent/relative 17.6%
connections
Newspaper 20.4%
Word of mouth 21.8%
Career counseling 10.6%
Job fair 7.0%
School career placement 8.5%
Sheltered workshop 3.5%
Other 12.0%
Please complete the following statements about the job search process:
12b. Finding employment opportunities is….
Very Difficult
40.8%
Somewhat Difficult
40.8%
Somewhat Easy
15.5%
Very Easy
2.8%
12c. Filling out applications is….
Very Difficult
11.6%
Somewhat Difficult
31.9%
Somewhat Easy
42.0%
Very Easy
14.5%
12d. Creating a résumé is …
Very Difficult
26.1%
Somewhat Difficult
37.7%
Somewhat Easy
29.0%
Very Easy
7.2%
12e. Getting potential employers to interview me is …
Very Difficult
29%
Somewhat Difficult
43.5%
Somewhat Easy
26.1%
Very Easy
1.4%
12f. Interviewing is….
Very Difficult
18.6%
Somewhat Difficult
45.7%
Somewhat Easy
30.0%
Very Easy
5.7%
12g. Following up after interviews is….
Very Difficult
17.6%
Somewhat Difficult
42.6%
Somewhat Easy
30.9%
Very Easy
8.8%

4.
12h. Compared with your peers in the work force, do you feel discriminated against in any of the following ways?
(Check all that apply)
My skills are underused 12.7%
I don’t receive appropriate
compensation 4.2%
I am not given requested shifts 2.8%
I don’t receive promotions/raises 4.9%
I don’t receive accommodations or
supports for autism 6.3%
None 19.7%
N/A (I am not currently employed) 16.9%
12i. Are the employees that you work with aware of your autism spectrum disorder?
Yes, only my supervisors know 5.8%
Yes, only my peers/coworkers know 8.7%
Yes, everyone knows 14.5%
No, I don’t feel comfortable sharing 14.5%
No, it is not an issue 11.6%
I don’t know 10.1%
N/A (I am not currently employed) 34.8%
 Please continue answering the questions…
Please rate the following statements:
13. I feel comfortable working in a group environment.
Strongly Agree
10.4%
Somewhat Agree
46.7%
Somewhat Disagree
22.2%
Strongly Disagree
20.7%
14. I feel comfortable asking my peers for information or help.
Strongly Agree
15.3%
Somewhat Agree
45.3%
Somewhat Disagree
26.3%
Strongly Disagree
13.1%
15. I feel comfortable asking an authority figure for information or help.
Strongly Agree
22.8%
Somewhat Agree
45.6%
Somewhat Disagree
23.5%
Strongly Disagree
8.1%
16. I feel comfortable asking an authority figure for time off from work or class.
Strongly Agree
13.2%
Somewhat Agree
32.6%
Somewhat Disagree
38.0%
Strongly Disagree
16.3%
17. What is your current living situation?
Independently‐ alone 11.0%
Independently‐ with roommates 2.9%
Independently with people who are dependent on me 0.7%
On own with support 3.7%
With parents or other relatives 69.9%
In a residential facility 5.9%
In a group home 5.9%
18. How satisfied are you with this living arrangement?
Very Satisfied 31.6%
Satisfied 50.7%
Dissatisfied 9.6%
Very Dissatisfied 8.1%

5.
19. Please describe your satisfaction with your current relationships:
I do not have, but
would like…
I do have, but would
like more…
I am satisfied with my… N/A
19a. Romantic relationships 47.1% 5.9% 14.0% 33.1%
19b. Friendships 19.1% 33.1% 41.2% 6.6%
19c. Mentors 31.6% 10.5% 33.8% 24.1%
19d. Friends to confide in 24.6% 23.1% 38.8% 13.4%
19e. Friends to socialize with 22.2% 36.3% 31.1% 10.4%
19f. Relationship with parents 1.5% 20.9% 68.7% 9%
19g. Relationship with
significant other (e.g.
spouse, partner)
22.2% 5.2% 10.4% 62.2%
19h. Relationship with children 8.8% 3.7% 5.1% 82.4%
19i. Relationship with siblings 7.4% 22.1% 36.8% 33.8%
20. Do you participate in the following activities?
20a. Employment 69.4% No 30.6% Yes 20.5 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 4‐50 hours
20b. School 70.4% No 29.6% Yes 19.6 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 1‐40 hours
20c. Volunteer work 80.1% No 19.9% Yes 3.8 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 1‐14 hours
20d. Community groups/organizations 77.2% No 22.8% Yes 6.4 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 1‐31.25hours
20e. Spiritual or religious activities 61.9% No 38.1% Yes 1.9 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 1‐10 hours
20f. Exercise 43.0% No 57.0% Yes 5.6 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 0.5‐40 hours
20g. Hobbies or special interests 22.6% No 77.4% Yes 16.3 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 0‐100 hours
20h. Household chores/ duties 21.5% No 78.5% Yes 5.1 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 0.5‐40 hours
20i. Social activities with friends 53.3% No 46.7% Yes 7.4 Avg. Hours per week
Range: 1‐28 hours
20j. Other
21. Are you involved in any advocacy groups? Yes 11.9% No 88.1%
22. How do you travel to school, work, or other activities?
Drive myself or use public transportation on my own 38.7%
Depend on family member or friend support 31.4%
Use transportation provided by school or work 13.1%
Other (Please specify) 16.8%

6.
23. Please tell us about your therapy and service needs:
24. What limitations do you face in accessing these specialty health and education services? (Check all that apply)
Transportation 31.0%
Scheduling issues 14.8%
Shortage of service providers in the area 23.2%
No service providers in the area 13.4%
Providers in the area will not see
individuals with autism 5.6% 5.6%
Cost of service/My insurance does not
cover available services 16.2%
Stigma 2.1%
Other (Please specify) 12.7%
None 33.1%
25. How are these services paid for? (Check all that apply)
Private health insurance 23.9%
Out‐of‐pocket 14.1%
Medicaid (Medical Access) 52.8%
Mental Retardation Services 7.0%
I don’t know 22.5%
Other (Please specify) 12.7%
26. In the past year, have you gone to the emergency room for behavioral or psychiatric reasons?
Yes 14.4% No 85.6%
On how many occasions?
Mean: 3.3 visits; Standard Deviation: 8.56
27. In the past year, have you been admitted to a hospital or hospital‐like setting for psychiatric or behavioral
reasons?
Yes 9.6% No 90.4%
On how many occasions?
Mean: 1.6 hospitalizations; Standard Deviation: .53
If you have not been admitted to a hospital or hospital‐like setting for behavioral
or psychiatric reasons in the past year, please SKIP to question 28
I am
receiving
I am
receiving, but
need more
I am receiving,
but do not
need
I am not
receiving, but
need
I am not
receiving
23a. Mental Health Counseling 45.2% 10.4% 3.0% 9.6% 31.9%
23b. Speech/Language Therapy 3.0% 3.7% 0% 11.1% 82.2%
23c. Occupational/Speech
Therapy
3.0% 2.2% 0.7% 14.1% 80.0%
23e. Social Skills Training 14.7% 7.4% 0.7% 23.5% 53.7%
23g. Relationship Counseling 8.1% 3.7% 0% 14.1% 74.1%
23i. Case Management 36.8% 9.0% 0.8% 9.0% 44.4%
23j. Vocational Training 10.3% 4.4% 0.7% 18.4% 66.2%
23k. Transitional Planning 10.4% 8.9% 1.5% 11.1% 68.1%
23l. Supported Employment 11.2% 4.5% 0.7% 15.7% 67.9%
23m. Career Counseling 11.8% 5.9% 0% 21.3% 61%

7.
27a. If so, what were the specific reasons why you were admitted to a hospital or hospital‐like setting? (Check all
that apply)
Aggression 4.2%
Anxiety 3.5%
Defiant/oppositional behaviors 0.7%
Depression 3.5%
Running away from home 0%
Self‐injurious behaviors 3.5%
Significant increase in obsessions 3.5%
Other (Please specify) 2.8%
27b. How were you admitted?
I admitted myself (201, Voluntary Treatment ) 83.3%
I was admitted against my will (302, Involuntary Treatment) 16.7%
 Please continue answering the questions…
28. Have you had any of the following interactions with the police? (Check all the apply)
Police called 16.2%
Police warning issued (other than moving violations) 5.6%
Arrested by the police 5.6%
Charged with a misdemeanor or felony 9.2%
None 68.3%
Other (Please specify) 9.2%